Receptacle filling machine



RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1950 6 Sheet's-Sheet l &

INVENTOR ,m 1 i 8 'firZhurETacey ATTORNEYS Oct. 19, 1954 A. E. TACEY RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 6, 1950 INVENT OR ATTORNEYS Oct. 19, 1954 A. TACEY RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE 6 SheetsSheet 4 Filed Nov. 6, 1950 INVENTOR flrZ/aur E Taoey mu/KM ATTORNEYS Oct. 19, 1954 A. E. TACEY RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 6, 1950 0 FF 4 3 in? I A T 7 A 5 9 w 1 5 3 m M 3 a IIII fl M M H l ..nl7l Ill a 9.. up r 9" T 9 A 0/ Z flrZizurZlTa a e y BY LM ATTORNEYS Oct. 19, 1954 A. E. TACEY 2,692,111

RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR flrf/lur Eijzzcey ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 19, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Arthur E. Tacey, Dallas, Tex.

Application November 6, 1950, Serial No. 194,240

(Cl. 249-63l 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a receptacle filling machine.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine for filling receptacles with liquids so that accurately measured quantities of liquids may be discharged into the receptacles.

Another object of this invention is to provide in combination with an electric valve, a weight operated means for actuating the valve to open or closed position so that accurately measured quantities of liquids may be discharged into receptacles.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of this kind which can be adjusted so as to provide for discharge of the desired quantity of material into a receptacle.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and, details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detailed side elevation of a receptacle filling machine constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line ,2 --2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure .5 is a plan view partly in section of the device with the platform removed.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6--.6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the lines of either Figure or 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line ||l-|0 of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric circuits embodied in this invention.

Figure 12 is .a fragmentary side elevation of a modified formof this invention.

Figure 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line I3|3 of Figure12.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary side elevation partly in section of a modified form of delivery nozzle. Figure 15 is a bottom plan view of the delivery nozzle shown in Figure 14.

. Referring to the drawings, the numeral 21! designates generally a base member which has 2. secured to an offset 2| thereof an upright tubular column or post 22. The base 20 has secured to the upper side thereof a tubular guide 23 having a lower flange 24 secured by fastening means 25 to the upper side of the base 20. A plunger 26 is slidable in the guide 23 and is formed with a flanged head 2! which is secured by fastening means 28 to a weighing platform generally designated as 2.9. The platform '29 comprises a top wall 34, opposite side walls 3|, and opposite end walls 32 and 33.

A lubricating ring 34 is disposed about the plunger 25 and is adapted to maintain an oil film on plunger 26.

The platform 29 is constantly urged upwardly by gravity operated means which includes an elongated balance lever 35 pivotally mounted as at 36 on an upstanding support 31 carried by the base 20. The lever 35 is formed intermediate the ends thereof with a large loop or ring 38 which engages loosely about the guide 23. The lever 35 at its forward end has a weight 39 threadably mounted thereon. A rock lever 4| is rockably mounted between the ends thereof as at 42 on an upstanding support 43 secured to the base 20, and the rear end 44 of lever 4| has pivotally connected therewith a link 45 which is also pivotally connected as at 46 to weight carrier lever 35 at a point forwardly of the pivot 36 of lever 35.

The guide tube 23 is formed with a vertically elongated slot 41 through which the forward end of lever 4| engages and the lower end of plunger 26 is slotted as at 48 so that the forward end of lever 4| may loosely engage within the lower end of plunger 26 and contact with a roller 49 pivotally mounted on a pivot member 50 extending through the plunger 26 and across the slot 43. The upright post 22 has adjustably secured thereto .an electric valve 5| which is substantially identical with the construction of the electric valve embodied in prior Patent 2,413,622 issued December 31, 19 46. The electric valve 5| as disclosed in the above mentioned patent embodies a spring pressed main valve which is constantly urged to closed position and is moved to open position by .an electromagnetic member. The valve 5| is latched in an open position and is released from the latch by a second electromagnetic member constituting a valve closing element.

The valve structure 5| embodies a laterally projecting car 52 which is secured by an adjustable fastening means 58 to an car 54 carried by a socket member 55. The socket member .55 has disposed therein a stud 56 which is formed with a reduced smooth stud 57 and a further reduced diameter threaded stud 58. The stud i engages through one ear 59 of a split clamping ring 69 disposed about the post or support 22. The threaded stud 58 engages through a second car carried by the clamping ring or band 80, and knurled nut 62 is threaded on the stud 58 and is adapted to place the ears 59 and SI under clamping pressure for holding the band 89 in vertically adjusted position and in circumferentially adjusted position on post or column 22.

A washer 63 is interposed between the inner end of nut 62 and the outer side of ear 8 I Socket 65 is held in adjusted position with respect to stud 56 by means of a set screw 64. The valve structure 5| includes a discharge bushing 55 and a removable bushing 36 is mounted in bushing 65. A discharge nozzle 67 of substantially L.- shape is threaded into bushing 66 and is adapted to have the outer discharge end thereof directed downwardly for discharging liquid or other material into a receptacle which is disposed on the upper side of platform 29.

In order to provide a means whereby the electric valve 5i may be moved to opened or closed position I have provided a mercury switch 68 which is secured to a rock member 69 pivotally mounted on a support 70 secured to the base 26. The mercury switch 68 is adapted to be rocked upwardly to circuit closing position by means of an elongated lever Ii secured to a rock shaft I2 rotatably engaging through bearing means I3 carried by the base 22. The lever II is adapted to be gravitatingly rocked downwardly and is rocked upwardly by means of an L shaped lever 76 which is fixed to one end of rock shaft l2 projecting rearwardly through the rear wall 33 and projecting upwardly along the outer side of the wall 33.

The upper end of L-shaped lever I4 is provided with a slot 35 within which a pin I6 carried by the slotted rear end of a plunger shaft 'I'I loosely engages. The plunger shaft II includes a reduced diameter shaft I8 which is slidable through an upstanding bearing I9 and a second upstanding bearing BIB. the form of an angle member which is fixed to the upper side of platform 29 and forms an abutment which is to be engaged by the receptacle R when the latter is moved rearwardly in its empty condition so as to move shafts I8 and TI rearwardly. Rearward movement of shafts I8 and TI will rock L-shaped lever IA thereby raising lever TI and rocking mercury switch 68 upwardly to a circuit closing position. The forward-end of lever l! is connected with a split clamp BI disposed about mercury switch 58 by means of a link 82.

A normally open switch 83 is secured to a mounting 84 carried by the base 20 and includes a circuit closing button 85 which is adapted to be engaged by a vertically adjustable switch operating bolt 86 carried by an arm Sl. The bolt 85 is vertically adjustable through the arm 81, and arm 8'! is provided at its inner end with a right angle base 88 secured by fastening means 89 to the adjacent side of weight carrying lever 35.

At the time the weight 39 is in its lowermost position as shown in Figures 7 and 8, switch op erator 86 is in contact with switch button 85 so as to hold switch 83 in circuit closing position. After a predetermined quantity of liquid or other material is discharged from valve 5I into receptacle R valve 5! is moved to a closed position by closing of a circuit in which a normally open switch 99 is interposed. The switch 90 includes The bearing 80 is constructed in a button 94 disposed above the lever 35 adjacent the rear of the latter so that when the lever 35 is rocked upwardly by weight of the material, causing lever 4| to rock downwardly at its forward end and upwardly at its rear end, switch 96 will be moved to a circuit closing position.

Switch 86 is carried by a bellcrank lever or support Q2 which is pivotally mounted as at 93 on an upstanding support 94 carried by base 20. The bellcrank lever 92 includes a substantially horizontally disposed upper arm 95 to which the switch 9%) is secured and also includes a depending arm 85 having a laterally extending lug 9? through which a lever adjusting screw 93 is threadably disposed. The screw 98 is adapted to abut against a lug or abutment 99 carried by the support 94 so as to thereby limit the counterclockwise rocking of bellcrank lever 92.

Referring now to Figure 11 there are disclosed t -e electric circuits embodied in this invention. A pair of supply conductors I80 and I6! are connected to terminal posts I02 and I83, respectively, and a manually operable cut-off switch I04 is interposed in supply conductor ill I. A conductor I55 is connected at one end to another terminal its carried by the base 29, and the other end of conductor I05 is connected to one side of mercury switch 88. The other side of mercury switch I38 is connected by means of a conductor It? to one side of switch 83, and the other side of switch 83 is connected by conductor I58 to a terminal I09.

Terminal its has connected therewith a conductor Iii which is connected to one side of the electric valve EI, and this one side comprises the valve opening electro-magnetic means so that closing of the circuits between switches 53 and 83 will energize valve 5I for moving this valve to open position. Valve 5| is connected by means of conductor I I l to terminal I82 which constitutes a common supply terminal. The valve closing electro-magnetic means of valve 5I is connected with switch Si by means of a conductor II2. Conductor H2 is connected by means of a conductor II3 to supply terminal I03.

Signal light I I4 is mounted within the platform 29 and is connected by means of a conductor II5 to terminal E06 and is connected by means of a conductor I I6 to supply conductor I02. A bridging conductor I i'I is connected between terminals I93 and I66. A signal light H4 is lighted so long as switch I04 is in circuit closing position, and the light rays from light I I4 are adapted to escape in the space I I8 between the lower end of the platform 29 and the upper side of the base 21 In order to provide a means whereby the platform 29 is held against undue lateral movement, a pair of rollers I I5 are mounted on supports I29 fixed to the upper side of the base at and are adapted to engage the inner faces of the side walls 3!, The upper side of the platform 29 has secured thereto in spaced apart parallel relation a pair of longitudinally disposed angle members IZI which extend forwardly from the angle member 80.

Referring now to Figures 12 and 13 there is disclosed a modified form of discharge means for the material discharged from the valve 5I. A plurality of right angularly related L-shaped discharge nozzles I22 are secured to right angularly related tubes I23 which are secured by the lower end of a vertical tube I24. The vertical tube I24 is secured to a bushing I25 having a groove I23 within which a set screw I2! is adapted to engage. The bushing I25 engages in a removable bushing I28 which is secured to the valve structure 5I.

As shown in Figure 13 there are four of these discharge nozzles I22 so that four receptacles R may be disposed on the upper side of platform 29.

Referring now to Figures 14 and 15 there is disclosed another modification of discharge nozzle which is adapted to eliminate dripping. The discharge nozzle shown in Figures 14 and 15 includes a tubular nozzle member I29 having an enlarged upper end I33 formed with a groove I3I within which the set screw I22 is adapted to engage. The lower end of the nozzle member I29 has mounted therein a cluster of reverted strips I32 which are radially arranged as shown in Figure 15. It will be understood that the nozzle members I22 and nozzle member 61 may also be provided with the anti-dripping means I32. I I

The electric valve 5i, shown in Patent 2,413,622, supra, embodies a main spring-pressed valve plug I 35 which is spring-pressed downwardly to a closing'position, and the valve plug I35 is carried by a solenoid core I36. The core I35 is slidable within the coil I37, and core I35 is adapted to be latched in an upper open position by means of a latching bar I38. The latching bar I38 is engageable in an annular keeper groove I39 formed in the core I36. The latching bar I35 is springpressed to a latching position by means of an L-shaped crank I43, which has one arm thereof engaging the latching bar I33 and the other arm engages the core I4I of a valve releasing solenoid having a coil I42 within which the core I4I slidably engages. The core I4I is spring-pressed upwardly to a latching position by means of a spring I43 and spring I43 through crank I constantly urges latching bar I33 to the right or to latching position. Wire or conductor II I is connected to a movable bridging contact I44 carried by the latching bar I38, and in the released position of latching bar I38, contact I44 engages a stationary contact I45 which is connected by a conductor I 43 to one end of the main valve operating solenoid I31. A second fixed contact I4'I is disposed in confronting position to bridging contact I44 and is connected by a conductor I 48 to coil I 42. The switch structure embodying contacts I44, I45 and I4'I provides a means whereby the solenoid coils I31 and I42 will be only momentarily energized, and when coil I 37 is initially energized, latching member I33 will move to the right so that contact I44 will engage contact IM and thereby close a circuit to the valve releasing solenoid coil I42. In this manner, when switch 93 is closed to the valve releasing solenoid I42, the latter will be energized and latching member I38 will be withdrawn from the keeper groove I 39 so that valve plug member I35 may be moved downwardly by its spring to a normally closed position.

There are three switches for operation of the valve plug I 35, one being switch 83 which is connected to the valve opening solenoid Hi, the second, which is switch 34, is connected to the valve releasing solenoid I42, and the third is switch 68, which in the present instance is liquid switch 33 and which is interposed between the first switch 83 and the valve opening solenoid I37. The third switch 68 is the control switch for operating the valve structure 5! as, when the platform 23 is uppermost, switch 83 will be closed so as to place the opening solenoid I37 in circuit with the supply source. However, the solenoid I3? is not energized until a receptacle is placed on the platform and presses against the plunger I3 on the platform so as to thereby close the third or liquid switch 63.

It will be understood that the first solenoid I31 is only momentarily energized and the valve plug I35 is latched in open position by springpressed latch I33 so that no energy will be required to maintain the valve plug I35 in an open position.

In the use and operation of this device switch member I64 is initially moved to circuit closing position. When the receptacle R is mounted on platform 29 the receptacle is pushed rearwardly so as to move shaft 'I'I rearwardly and through levers l4 and I! together with link 82 to rock mercury switch 63 upwardly to a circuit closing position.

When the receptacle R is initially empty, weight 39 will be disposed at its lowermost position shown in Figures 6 and 8. At this time switch 33 will be held in circuit closing position by bolt 86 so that the material in liquid form will be discharged from valve 5I through nozzle bl into receptacle R. As receptacle R fills with the liquid the weight of the receptacle and the liquid therein will move platform 29 downwardly, and at the same time plunger 23 which engages the forward end of lever M will raise lever 35 and weight 39.

When a predetermined quantity of liquid has been discharged into receptacle R, lever 35 will be raised to a point where switch button ill of switch 94 will be engaged by lever 35 in order to move normally open switch 33 into a circuit closing position. When switch til is in circuit closing position the electro-magnetic release means of valve 55 will be energized so that valve 5| will be automatically moved to cut-off or closed position. This filling device will provide a means whereby an accurate and predetermined amount of liquid may be discharged into a receptacle of predetermined size.

It will be understood that as disclosed in Patent 2,413,622 supra, electric valve 5! embodies an electro-magnetic valve opening means, and an electro-magnetic valve release means whereby the valve plug which is spring-pressed to closed position may be released from the holding latch which maintains the valve plug in open position. The valve 5I is also so constructed that the circuits to the opening and closing means will be broken automatically as soon as the valve plug I35 has moved to closed position.

Where a plurality of receptacles are to be filled the plural nozzle assembly shown in Figures 12 and 13 will be secured to the valve structure 5|. Any variation in the weight of the material of one receptacle or a plurality of receptacles can be adjusted by means of the adjusting screw 38 so that the single or plurality of receptacles will be filled with a predetermined amount of material.

What is claimed is:

1. A receptacle filling machine comprising a base, a movable platform above said base, a balance lever rockably carried at one end on said base, a balance weight on the other end of said lever, a tubular column carried by said base having a slot in the lower portion thereof, a depending plunger fixed to said platform and slidably engaging in said column, said plunger having a slot in the lower portion thereof, a roller in said plunger slot, a rock lever pivotally mounted between the ends thereof on said base, one end of said rock lever projecting through the slot in said column and the slot in said plunger, said roller engaging on the upper side of said rock lever, a link pivotally connected between the other end of said rock lever and an intermediate point of said balance lever, an electrically operated valve above said platform, said valve including a valve plug spring-pressed to closed position, electromagnetic means for moving said plug to open position, spring-pressed latching means for holding said valve in open position, electromagnetic release means connected with said latching means, a normally open switch carried by said base connected with said first-named electromagnetic means, means carried by said balance lever engageable with said switch when said balance lever is in a lower position for closing the circuit to said first-named electromagnetic means, a second switch connected between said firstnamed switch and said first-named electromagnetic means and normally disposed in circuit breaking position, means including an L-shaped lever carried by said platform engageable by a receptacle on said platform and connected with said second switch for moving the latter to circuit closing position, a third normally open switch carried by said base connected with said second electromagnetic means, and means supporting said third switch in a position to be engaged by and closed by said balance lever when said balance lever is in substantially balanced position to thereby release said valve for movement to closed position.

2. A receptacle filling machine comprising a base, a movable platform above said base, balance means supporting said platform from said base, a valve above said platform, means supporting said valve for discharge in the direction of said platform, and means connected between said base and said balance means and also connected with said valve for moving said valve to open or closed position with movement of said platform, said latter means including a mercury switch, means rockably mounting said switch on said base beneath said platform, an L-shaped lever, a rock shaft carried by said base and fixed to one arm of said lever, the other arm of said lever extending upwardly on the outer side of said platform, a receptacle engaging plunger shaft slidably carried by said platform and connected to the upper end of said other lever arm, a linkage connected between said shaft and said switch mounting means whereby contact of a receptacle with said plunger will rock said switch to circuit closing position to thereby initiate operation of said valve to open position, and means connected with said valve engageable with said platform when said platform is lowered by the weight of material thereon for moving said valve to closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 607,476 Richards July 19, 1898 615,493 Richards Dec. 6, 1898 832,236 Carmichael Oct. 2, 1906 1,773,946 Butler Aug. 26, 1930 2,124,811 Bennett July 26, 1938 2,351,606 Gold June 20, 1944 2,352,114 Muskat June 20, 1944 2,413,622 Harding Dec. 31, 1946 

